Clutch driven plate



Feb. 5, 1952 Filed May 15, 1947 A. R. NARRIN CLUTCH DRIVEN PLATE 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

www@

Feb. 5,

Filed May l5, 194'? 1952 A. R. NARRIN CLUTCH DRIVEN PLATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 5, 1952 Filed May l5, 1947 A. R. NARRIN CLUTCH DRIVEN PLATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

@Z2/z ENEL/w72, y

Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE; y

AustnlRL`Narrin, Lake Orion, Mich., assignor` to George I. Goodwin, Birmingham, Mich.

Application May 15, 1947, Serial No. 748,171

'9 claims... (C1. 19e-4107) l' This invention pertains to improvements in a clutch driven plate for automotivenstallation, and in particular to a coordinated combination of-parts 4whereby a clutch -plate assembly may be fabricated in any desired or requisiteouter and inner facing diameter Vand free and compressed laxial thickness, suitable for installation in-any one of a-large varietyof types*` ofvautomotive clutches.

It is an object of the invention to-provide Va clutch plate including acentral supporting-disk and standard friction facings and cushion members, together withan additional internal-spacingaand drivingring, whereby in employing one cfa limited number of ringschosen for .appropriate thickness, diameter, polar;moment etc., with standard clutch friction facings and cushion members Ydrilled ,in-.conformity with the rivet drillngfpattern lof the facings, one may readily assemble a clutch plate to satisfy any one of many different automotive clutch platespecications.

Another object is to provide a clutch plate yassembly including an annular spacing ring ofthe type described associated l.in a driving. relation to the spring cushion means of the Vplate in such a vmanner as to provide'major torsional support between the `several cushion-meanssduring'the operation of .theassenrblm whereby thedesign of certain cushion members constituting said means may be altered toincrease the cushioning efficiency thereof, without sacrificingv torsional rigidity or strength in thefplate'assemblyias a whole.

AV still further object is to* provide a novell driving .and lspacing ring` asa `component 'of Ia clutch driven plate, which ringxwhen properly chosen and combined with cushions a-ndfacings enables thefassembly of at-clutch, plate `inany of a large variety of specified dimensions, yetemploying but ra comparativelysmall number'of standardizedtypes of cushion members and facings;

I The foregoing statements are indicativevr ina general way ofthe nature ofthe invention, but othertand more specicobjects-fwill be apparent to thosef skilled in the art-upon @full-,understanding of the construction and operation of the device.

Several embodiments-ofthe invention `are presented herein for purpose of exemplilficatlon,y and it will. be appreciatedthat the inventionis susceptible of incorporation. in still other moded forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

InY the drawings.. l

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary face view, broken away in '.part, :illustratinga driven clutch plate ,assem-` blyin accordance with one form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is afragmentary view in sectionlonline 2 2 of Fig. l,v showing the undulatory outline of a cushion member of the assembly in;its yrelation to the opposed friction facings and anintermediate selected driving and spacing ring according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in transverse section on line `3--3 of Fig. 1, further illustrating the :spacing and driving relationships 'ofthe various components of the plate;

Figs. 4, .4A and 4B are fragmentarylface-views, illustrating threepossible variations ingstructural detailsof the driving and-spacing ring which is an important lpart of the plate VVassembly;l

Fig. 5 is a view in section along the line-55 of Fig. 4B;

Figs. 6, 6A land GBY-are views generallysimilar to Figs. 4, 4A and 4B, respectively illustratingfa driving and spacing ring in accordance YWith three other modified embodiments thereof;

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary faceview illustrating the principle of theinvention as .applied to a clutch plate in an alternative embodiment;

Figs. v8` and 9 are fragmentary sectional views on lines corresponding. respectively to lines 8 8 and 9-9 of Fig. '7;

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary face viewshowirlga clutch plate ,having the .provisions of the invention incorporated therein in a still further modi-- cation which is somewhat similar to `that .of Figs. 7-9 inclusive, but diiersin a manner which is hereinafter describedin greater detail.

Figs. ll and l2 are fragmentary sectional views taken on lines corresponding Vapproximately to lines H-ll and |2-I2 ofFig. 10.

This invention pertains to improvements in an automotive clutchdriven plate or platevassembly and is immediately concerned with vthe provision of such a plate to ll the-'needsofthe replacement or repair trade. However, it will vbe evident that the principle of the invention is-not necessarily limited in this respect and may-indeed be. readily applied in'V the manufacture of original equipment. Nevertheless, since the problems confronting a. manufacturer attempting toAmeet-the demand for replacement parts :serve toemphasizethe utility ofthe invention, the der scription is based upon-,its application to thereplacement. branch of the trade.

Heretofore, most clutch plate replacement units have; been supplied with attached friction facings, `ordinarily .secured to itheV usual cushion means of the unit by rivets arrangedin various patterns which do not conform to any standard pattern set up by the Brake Lining Manufacturers Association. Frequently, however, a demand is made for clutch plate disks which can be refaced at the option of the repairman with a proper friction facing which is drilled in accordance with B. L. M. A. standards. In such case the replacement unit must be of the appropriate outer and inner diameter and free and compressed axial thickness required by the clutch assembly in which it is to be installed. Since the maximum.

volume of clutch replacements is intended for use in automobiles anywhere from three to eight years of age, it is evident that the various automotive.

clutch manufacturers will have evolved numerousv types of driven plates peculiar to the various auto- Said terminal areas are connected to the bearing mobile models presented over such a period, usu' ally characterized by some special pattern. of drilling for the facing securing rivets. Hence, the clutch plate builder, in order to meet all replacement demands, would either have to supply plates in many different variations of diameter, thickness, etc., of his own special design, or would have to develop and manufacture a large volume o f clutch driven plate disks and cushions exactly identical as to drilling pattern with those employed in each and every one of a large number of automotive models. Various factors of a practical nature preclude either of these alternatives.

The present invention affords a plate assembly which is built to include one type of a relatively small number of specially designed cushion members, together with facings selected from readily available B. L. M. A. stock numbers, such selection being limited only by the requirement that the facing selected have a rivet hole drilling standard matching that existing in the particular cushion member with which it is to be used. These selected cushion members and facings are combined with a spacing ring of novel character, also chosen coordinately with regard to the cushions and facings and in accordance with the desided facing O. D. and I. D. and free and compressed axial plate dimension of the final replacement plate unit, to the end that a relatively small number of ring types and coacting parts will enable a manufacturer to meet a demand for a clutch plate in any one of a large number -of specifications. l

The invention also has an Aimproved feature in that the spacing ring referred to additionally serves as a driving member coacting with and between the cushion members in distributing the torsional stress, to the end that the cushion members may be necked down at their connectionto their supporting disk more than was previously possible, with resultant increase in eil'iciency of cushioning action.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the reference numeral I0 designates the plate assembly of the invention. This is made up generally of a central supporting disk II, the hub of which is splined at I2 for driving connection to a shaft; a plurality of cushion members I3; a pair of standard friction facings I4, I5 of well known type located on the flywheel and pressure plate side of the assembly respectively; and an intervening spacing ring I6 located between the members I3 and the facing I5, and drivingly connected to the former in a manner to be described.

y The cushion members each include an inner attaching portion or ear I'I secured to disk |I by a pair of spaced rivets I8, and a necked-down, radially extending, intermediate portion I3 which areas 24, 25 by intervening inclined spring areas vIn accordance with the invention springs I3 are provided with drilled, rivet receiving openings 28 in the central area 2| thereof for the reception of the rivets 29 by which the facing I5 is secured td the cushion wing. The area 25 has similar holes 28 therein for the reception of rivets 30 wherebyv the facing I4 is secured to the cushion member. v

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the respective facings are in each case provided with rivet-receiving openings appropriately located at 3| to receive the respective rivets 29 and 30, as well as clearance openings 32 for access to the rivets in heading over the same. Clearance openings 32 are also formed in spacing ring I6, Fig. 4, to receive the rivets 30 which attach the upper facing I4 to the cushions.

The rivet drillings in eachy of the facings I4, I5 are, in the several forms of the invention shown; arranged in accordance with one of the standard B. L. M. A. patterns. Rings I8 are to be supplied with rivet holes 33 drilled in accordance with similar patterns, it being intended that several groups of such rings be made available, in which the rings of each group will vary in I. D., O. D. and thickness (as well as in other respects to be described), but will each have a uniform and standard drilling pattern. The pattern of each group will vary from that of another.

Cushion members I3 will also vary in their respective drilling pattern, it being contemplated that relatively few designs of cushion members are to be employed, each having one of a rela-v tively few standard facing drilling patterns con# forming respectively to those of the facings described above.

Accordingly, employing a central supporting disk Il of given diameter having a group of cushion members I 3 of 'some particular rivetdrilling pattern secured thereon, it is possible to build up a clutch plate assemblyof any desired facing O. D. and I. D.I and any desired overall free and compressed thickness of the plate assembly by coordinating and incorporating therei with a properly selected spacing ring I6, alongv with facings I4, I5, also of desired selected'and coordinated diameter and thickness. These fac'- ings and the ring I6 will have a corresponding predetermined pattern of rivet drilling which is one of several standard B. L. M. A. patterns. It is evident that any one of a relatively few optional sizes of ring and designs of cushion may be assembled with any one of a very large number of facing designs to produce a plate assembly suited to any o fa large number of clutchplate Speitions# i y lIn addition to functioning'as a spacer for the above purposes, the ring I6 drivingly connects to the respective cushion members I3 in a man-- ner to assist the same in sustaining torque, thereby somewhat distributing among the cushion assignee members the torsional orfdrivingload, :thus reducing thesstress'a't the `:neck-downv connecting To this end .the ring i6 portion i9 thereof.

providedwithrpairs of `radial slits `311"atpoints 1 and 3, mating with vand receiving the driving.

lugsf35, to therebydrivingly couple the ring with the respective/cushion members. in the rotative sense. .A supporting action between'thecushion members is thereby developed which-enables the connecting portions |19 thereof to-.be -still -fure ther reduced lor necked down-nwidth; `wit-hout unduly weakening the member at this point. As a result, a greater portion of the outer wingpor tion 2.0 of the cushion member is made available for cushioning purposes, without sacrici-ng the' total torsional rigidity or strength of the driven plate assembly.

In addition to the provisions describedfabove, the spacing and driving ringjl providesy a place Where .the polar moment of the assembly may be reduced Without weakening the structure, therebymaintaining the lowest possible spinning inertia of the driven plate assembly asa whole. Referring particularly to Figs. 4, 4A and 4B, I illustrate therein a plurality .of types of slots 3l, 38, 39 in the respective figures arranged radially or circumferentially of thel disk indesired or selected groupings for the. purpose of re ducing the Weightof the ring in a balanced fashion. spacing vor shape of these apertures may be resorted to, the v designs illustrated being buttln'ee 1 of .many possible variations to accomplish the desired end. .Thefactor of weight of the ring I6 ofcourse enters .into the choiceV of the appropriate ring fora given built-up plate assembly. along with the factors of axial thickness, O.-D. and I. D., to theultimate end of securing a properly designed andttedplate assembly for any given clutch installation.

In Figs. 6. 6A and 6B, I illustrate threffurf ther adaptations .of spacer rings'of .the .general types referred to above, hence desig'fnate'dV b the reference .numeral Hi', butcharacterized by different (but still standard) .arrangementjof the rivet holes .33', as' well as .of the corresponding ring lightening' slotsfl". .38', 39, req'mctiyeic' and the ccnnectingand driving lugstbywhich' the ring is torsionally Ycoupled tc the cushion members. In general, any slottingcom'bination which removes weight from therme l5, 582er a comparable ring'. without interfering withits strength or obiectionablv .marring its surface the points where' it' .supportsa facing orv cushion wings'. is' contemplated by the. invention.

A further modification of thev invention is illixstrated in Figs. '7. 8 and 9. In this form the drivimr rios. .designated Mhhas rivet receiving holes M located in radial spaced relation. as in the iirst embodiment. through which the cushionv member 42 and the respective fa'cings 44, 155 are's'e'curedtog'ether"by rivets A493.v In this in'- s'taricethe' central area 4'! of the Wing" portion of the cushion member is prhvde'd with a U- shaped'slit wwhich terminates at'litse'ndsv in the slotted apertures 4B. so as to Hennes/bend# able lockingr lug. tonenedrkey' E'Uintegral with and extending radiallyo'f the` cushion". Inas-` Any desired and practical pattern,

6 sembling 'the yparts fthis tongue. is deected into 'a -icorre'spondingly located mating aperture 5 l :in .the ring :240, `thereby rotatively locking the Yring tothe various cushions :and effecting 'torsional support between the Vlatter.

f In Figsfl, llarrd 1'2 astill further embodiment .of thev invention isA illustrated, Wherein'the cushion members `52, in the central area V53 of the wingportion thereoLare each provided with a U-shaped slitf54zsimilar to the'slit d8 of the preceding embodiment, and `similarly terminatingat its ends in slots 55; In this modification thehole 156 for thereception of the .facing securing'rivetl isformed in the tongue, lug orv key 58 defined by said slit 54. Inv assembling the cushion member 52 to' the spacing ring here designatedl 59,'-and tothe facing-.60, 6|, the tongue 58 is :deflected througha correspondingly located mating :aperture :62 1in lthe .'ring, `after vwhich rivet-5| is set to secure the facing 6| to-this tongue. The latter thus acts as a cushion tying member :andin'addition V asa rotative key. The `other facingfis held to'the springby 'the rivet 63 shown inFig. lO'atione of the laterally spaced facing'abutting areas or surfaces of the cushion.` Inertia vcontrolling openings may be provided; if desired, in Yring 59, similar to the embodiments of Figs; 1 9 inclusive.

From the' foregoing disclosure-of several modes of embodying the invention, it will be evident that numerous equally eiective substitutions 'can be readilyfevolv'ed by those skilled in the art, al1 to thek end of aiording a combination including -a driving and'spacing ring rof optional O. D., I. D. vand Aaxial thickness, selected from one of several groups or'classes, leach Vof which has cne'ofeanumber of frivet drilling ypatterns correlated to one of aA number ofstandard facing rivetdrilling patterns; suchrring being optionally associated Withgcushion members and standard facings .for the .purpose of producing "any desired vtype' or dimension "of plate assembly. 'I therefore desire that the invention Vbe contrue'd nok more limitedly than isfreasonably indicated by the' scope ofthe appended claims.

YI claim:

` l. In a clutch plate'v assembly, a supporting disk Ahaving circ'umferentially lspaced cushion members of circumferentially' undulatory out# line-securedthertoadjacent the periphery there-f of, single annular'spacin'g ring independent of 'and separate 'from'b'ut `c'oncentric vvith said disk' and of 'selected thickness and diameter, Li/"nich `ring is disposed on one arial sideonlyof and in 'face-contacting engagement With said cushion -rnernbers,v with its inner periphery lo cated' outtvardly of 'the' outer periphery of said disk', 'and a pairfof annularfriction 'facings disposed Uconceritrically 'of said ring in rotatively driving engagement' respectively with'the lat'- te'r andwith's'aid cushion mernberasaic cushion members, vringv 'and facings being coordinately chosen in" dimensions resulting in desired overaii dimensions ofthe assembly, and means. for securing the faeings` 'to said ring and cushion members', the maximum axial thicknessA of the .assembled cushion members; spacing ring and facings at the axially' engaging areas and in the' fullypompressed conditionthereof being not in'l e'xiesscr" the' sum'of the individual thicknesses meer I 2. In a clutchfplate assembly, a supporting disk having circumferentially spaced cushionpmem# bers' a circumferentialiy undulatory rvoutline hse# cured thereto-adjacent the'periphery thereof,

an annular driving and spacing range independent of and separate from but externally concentric with said disk, said ring and respective cushion members having certain surface areas thereof disposed in constantly coplanar, facecontacting engagement with one another, and a pair of annular friction facings disposed concentrically of said ring in engagement respectively with the latter and With said cushion members, said respective members and ring having coacting means located in register with one another at said face contacting areas to rotatively couple the ring with the members in a manner to afford torsional support for the latter, and means for securing the facings to said ring and cushion members, the maximum axial thickness of the assembled cushion members, spacing ring and facings at the axially engaging areas and in the fully compressed condition thereof being not in excess of the sum of the individual thicknesses thereof.

3. A plate assembly comprising a supporting disk having circumferentially spaced cushion members of circumferentially undulatory outline secured thereto adjacent the periphery thereof to extend radially outwardly therefrom, an annular driving and spacing ring independent of and separate from but externially concentric with the disk, said ring and respective cushion members having certain surface -areas thereof disposed in constantly coplanar, face-contacting engagement with one another, and a pair of annular friction facings disposed concentrically of said ring in respective engagement with the latter and With said cushion members, said respective members and ring having mating lug and recess means located-in register with one another at said face contacting areas to rotatively couple the ring with the members in a manner to afford torsional support thereto,v and means for securing the respective facings to said ring and cushion members, a maximum axial thickness of the assembled cushion members, spacing ring and facings at the axially engaging areas and in the fully compressed condition thereof being not in excess of the sum of the individual thicknesses thereof.

4. A plate assembly comprising a supporting disk having circumferentially spaced cushion members secured thereto adjacent the periphery thereof to extend radially outwardly therefrom, an annular driving and spacing ring independent of and separate from but externally concentric with the disk and disposed in face-contacting engagement with said cushion members, and a A pair of annular friction facings disposed concentrically of said ring in respective engagement with the latter and with said cushion members, said members and ring having matinglug and recess means to rotatively and drivingly couple the ring with the members in a manner` to afford torsional support thereto, and means for securing the respective facings to said ring and cushion members, comprising a rivet extending through the lug and recess of said mating means to clinch one of the facings to a cushion member, the maximum axial thickness of the assembled cushion members, spacing ring and facings at the axially engaging areas and in the fully corn-v pressed condition thereof being not in excess of the sum of the individual thicknesses thereof.

5. In a clutch plate, a supporting disk having a plurality of radially extending-cushion members of circumferentially undulatory outlines secured thereto. a driving and spacingring sep-.

Cir

arate from and independent of said disk, said ring being disposed concentric with and radially outwardly of said disk and having face engagement with one side of said members, and a pair of facings respectively engaging the other side of said members and said ring, said ring being provided with circumferentially spaced, axially extending driving lugs and said respective members having apertures therein receiving said lugs tov rotatively couple the ring and members, and means for securing said facings to said cushion members, said ring having weight reducing apertures therein to control the spinning inertia of the plate and being of variable dimension to selectively 'govern'the overall dimension of the plate, the maximum axial thickness of the assembled cushion members, spacing ring and facings at the axially engaging areas and in the fully compressed condition thereof being not in excess of the sum of the individual thicknesses thereof.

6. In a clutch plate, a supporting disk having a plurality of radially extending cushion members secured thereto, a driving and spacing ring separate from and independent of said disk, said ring being disposed concentric with and radially outwardly of said disk and having face engagement with one side of said members, and' a pair of facings located respectively on the other side of said members and in engagement with said ring, said members being provided with integral, circumferentially spaced, bendable tying elements and said ring having apertures therein receiving said elements to rotatively couple the ring and members, and means for securing said facings to said memberscomprising rivet-like members gripping one of the facings and said members and extending through said elements, the maximum axial thickness of the assembled cushion members,` spacing ring and facings at the axially engaging areas and inthe fully compressed condition thereof being not in excess of the sum of the individual thicknesses thereof.

7. In a clutch plate, a supporting disk having cushion members secured thereto to extend radially thereof, an independent spacing and driving ring separate from and concentric with said disk and secured to said members radially outwardly of the disk in axial engagement with one Aside of said members, a pair of annular friction 'facings concentric with the ring and disposed on opposite sides of said ring and meme bers, means drivingly engaging the ring with said members to support the latter against torsional stresslcomprising bendable tongues on the respective members deflectable into posi-V tion for rotative driving engagement with the ring, and rivets for securing the facings to said members, the maximum axial thickness of the assembled cushionmembers, spacing ring and facings at the axially engaging areas and in the fully compressed condition thereof being not in excess of the sum of the individual thicknesses thereof.

8. In a clutchplate, a supporting disk having cushion members secured thereto to extend radially thereof, a spacing and driving ring separate from and independent of said disk, said ring being disposed concentric with said disk and located radially outwardly of the same in axial engagement with one side of said members, a pair of annular friction facings concentric with the ring and disposed on Opposite sides of said engaged ring and members, means drivingly engaging the ring with said members to support the latter against torsional stress comprising a bendable tongue on the respective members deiiectable into position for rotative engagement with the ring and rivets for securing the facings to said members, said tongue having a hole therein receiving certain of said rivets, the maximum axial thickness of the assembled cushion members, spacing ring and facings at the axially engaging areas and in the fully compressed condition thereof being not in excess of the sum of the individual thicknesses thereof.

9.-In a clutch plate, a supporting disk having a plurality of cushion members of circumferentially undulatory outline secured thereto, a driving and spacing ring independent of and separate from said disk and arranged externally concentric with the latter, said ring and respective cushion members having certain surface areas thereof in constantly coplanar, face engagement With one another, a pair of facings respectively engaging said ring and the side of said members opposite said ring, said ring and members having registering means to rotatively couple the same at said face engaging areas, and means for securing said facings to said cushion members,

said ring having Weight reducing apertures therein to control the spinning inertia of the plate, the maximum axial thickness of the assembled cushion members, spacing ring and facings at the axially engaging areas and in the fully compressed condition thereof being not in excess of the sum of the individual thicknesses thereof.

AUSTIN R. NARRIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,129,372 Gamble Sept. 6, 1938 2,146,042 Wolfram Feb. '7, 1939 2,171,908 Beringer Sept. 5, 1939 2,182,999 Wolfram Dec. 12, 1939 2,263,083 Goodwin Nov. 18, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 779,669 France Apr. 10, 1935 

